Erdogan rebukes Gaza flotilla organizers
Turkish president accuses IHH of disrupting efforts to reach a reconciliation agreement with Israel and not asking him for permission to set sail for Gaza in 2010; Erdogan adds, 'Now that we have Israeli assurances, all aid will pass to Gaza.'
On May 31, 2010, Shayetet 13 commandos took control of a Turkish boat that left from Istanbul at the initiative of the IHH, which is recognized by Israel and European countries as a terrorist organization. The incident exacerbated the diplomatic crisis between Turkey and Israel.
Israel claimed that Erdogan gave the flotilla a green light to leave the Istanbul port and that members of the then Turkish PM’s party encouraged the IHH to use violence against IDF soldiers, if the former took control of the boat.
The IHH issued a scathing critique of the Turkish-Israeli reconciliation deal on Monday and claimed that it allows for the continuation of the military blockade on Gaza.
In relation to the reconciliation deal that was signed with Israel and approved yesterday by the diplomatic-security cabinet, Erdogan added, “We have already sent a substantial amount of aid, but not publically. Now that we have Israeli assurances, all aid will pass to Gaza. We will turn this into a fixed procedure.” As a part of the agreement, Israel will also pay $21 million in compensation to the families of the wounded and killed.
